<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Pubs in Alice Springs are facing a major shake-up from today, as the Northern Territory Liquor Commission imposes strict new limits on mid-week drinking in a bid to curb alcohol-related harm.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Under the new mandate, more than 20 pubs and bars across the town will only be permitted to serve full-strength alcohol between 11:30am and 3:00pm on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays - and only when accompanied by a "full meal."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The decision marks an escalation of the commission's strategy to tackle social issues in Central Australia, following the introduction of takeaway-free Mondays in early 2023.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/australian-cafes-and-restaurants-hit-crisis-point/4a254438-9ed0-456d-bd6d-add45dc7ff8b" rel="" target="" title="Record number of cafes and restaurants going out of business"><strong><span>Record number of cafes and restaurants going out of business</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the hospitality sector has labelled the blanket restrictions "unprecedented."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is one thing to vary the conditions for one licence," Cathy Simmonds, CEO of Hospitality NT, told the ABC. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It is really unprecedented for the commission to add conditions for 20 in one go."</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/no-parma-no-pint-alice-springs-hits-pubs-with-strict-midweek-mealonly-rules/9f0a5ffe-c93b-4779-a9bd-37333d1f3ff2" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Simmonds also warned of the practical toll on workers, noting that the "inconsistency of the rules day to day" would require massive staff retraining.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>She argued that alcohol sales have been trending downward since 2018 and that "most tourists and most Territorians drink responsibly."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Beyond the meal requirements, the commission has recommended that several prominent venues - including the Todd Tavern, The Rock Bar, Bojangles, and The Uncles - implement on-site ID systems.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>These systems would allow staff to identify patrons under banning orders, though the rollout depends on the NT Government updating privacy and data-sharing legislation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><strong><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></strong></em><span> </span><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><em><strong><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Apple</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>ticking this box here</span></strong></em></a></li><li><em><strong><span>Sign up to</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="" title=""><em><strong><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></strong></em></a></li></ul></div></div>